General Information

Vladikavkaz city is the capital of the Northern Ossetia (Alania) Republic.

Called Northern Ossetia, or Ossetia, the region lies in southwest of Russia, on the northern flank of the Greater Caucasus range. It borders Georgia on the south and the Sunzha and the Terek ranges on the north. The area of the region is 3,100 square miles (about 8,000 square km). Population is 658,000 people. The largest cities of the region are Vladikavkaz, Mozdok and Beslan.

Vladikavkaz is the largest city in the Northern Ossetia Republic. It stands on the both banks of the Terek River. The population of the city is about 50,000 people. Major ethnic groups include Ossetians, Russians, Georgians and Armenians.

Distance from Moscow: 1923 km
City telephone code: 8672.

Climate and Nature


In the north of the Northern Ossetia Republic lies the Stavropol Plain, in the south there are the Tersky and Sungensky ridges. The Northern Ossetia Plain occupies the central part.

Northern Ossetia is mountainous, with the Main Range reaching 15,682 feet (4,780 m) at Mount Dzhimara and other peaks in the republic reaching more than 14,000 feet (4,250 m). Parallel to the Glavny crest range is a series of lower ranges through which the rivers have cut deep picturesque gorges.

The climate in the region is continental. The average temperature on the plains in January is 4°C below zero, in July it is 24°C above. Climate, soils, and vegetation all vary with the relief. The severity of the temperature regime and the rainfall both increase with height.
There are 250 springs and 10 types of mineral water with highly effective tonic and medical characteristics. In spite of their unique features and chemical composition, only a few of them have been commercially exploited.

History

From the VII century BC to the First century AD, Ossetia experienced Scythian-Sarmatian influence, which was succeeded by that of the warlike Alani, who are believed to be direct ancestors of the present-day Ossetians. Later, in the XIII century, the Mongol Empire extended its sway over Ossetia. Russian colonization began in the Northern Ossetia area after the establishment of the fortress of Vladikavkaz in 1784.

Founded in 1784 as a fortress during the Russian conquest of the Caucasian region, it was long the military and political center of Russia in the Caucasus. It was made the capital of the Gorskaya (Mountain People’s) Soviet Republic in 1921. In 1936 the region was renamed the North Ossetian Republic. The city was renamed Ordzhonikidze in 1932, Dzaudzhikau in 1944, again Ordzhonikidze in 1954, and Vladikavkaz in 1990.

In addition to Ossetians and Russians, Ingush, Armenians, Georgians, and Ukrainians today populate the republic.

Economy

The industry in the Northern Ossetia Republic is concentrated in Vladikavkaz. It includes nonferrous metallurgy (lead, zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, sulfuric acid, copper vitriol, tungsten, molybdenum), mechanical engineering and metalworking and manufacture of building materials. Food production and light industries are developed. In the mountains, timber exploitation, particularly of beech forests, is important. Hydroelectric plants have been built on the Terek River at Vladikavkaz and on the Gizeldon River.

Agriculture is concentrated on the lower slopes and near Mozdok; the irrigated fields produce many products. Many grains (wheat, corn and barley) as well as sunflower, hemp, potato, vegetables and fruit are growing. Sheep and cattle are raised on the higher slopes.

Northern Ossetia is one of the centers of tourism and mountaineering. There are Karmadon, Tamisk and Cey resorts. Beauty of the North Ossetian Mountains attracts tourists from many countries for hunting, mountain climbing, trekking and skiing.

Transportation

The two major highways across the Caucasus — the Military Georgian and the Military Ossetia roads built in the XIX century during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus are beginning in Northern Ossetia. A new all-weather highway to essentially replace these roads as a major transport route was under construction in the late XX century.

Vladikavkaz is 434 m. by rail from Rostov-on-the-Don, and has regular communication with Tiflis (133 m.) by coach through the Georgian military road. Moreover, a railway line running eastwards to the Caspian ports of Petrovsk arid Baku, connects Vladikavkaz, or rather the station Beslan, 14 m. north of it, with the Trans-Caucasian railway, i.e. with Tiflis, Poti and Batum.

Places to See

There are many museums, clubs, cinemas, theatres and public libraries in Vladikavkaz. Theatre of Drama, Musical Theatre, Children’s and Youngster’s Theatre, Theatre "The Narts" are the professional theatres worth visiting. The State Folk Dance Ensemble "Alan", the Choreographic Ensemble "Art" and the Symphonic Orchestra and Choir are very successful.

The scientific and cultural potential of Ossetia is very high. There are 4 Universities: the National University, the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Medical Academy and Agrarian Academy, as well as 13 colleges with 22 thousand students.

The Northern Ossetia Republic with its multi-ethnic people, advanced industry and agriculture, vast scientific and cultural potential is considered one of the developed republics of Russian Federation.

Hotels

Imperial Hotel. Address: Mir Prospect, 19. Phone: +7 8672 769031.
Kavkaz Hotel. Address: Vatutina Str., 50. Phone: +7 8672 334916.
Kolos Hotel. Address: Pushkinskaya Str., 43. Phone: +7 8672 339229.
Pushkinskaya Hotel. Address: Pushkinskaya Str., 10a. Phone: +7 8672 339096.
Universitetskaya Hotel. Address: Vatutina Str., 21a. Phone: +7 8672 748114.
Vladikavkaz Hotel. Address: Kotsoev Str., 75.Phone: +7 8672 758889, +7 8672 752028.

Evgeniya Stroganova